Jan. 10, 2009

Final Stats

LAS CRUCES, N.M. - Senior forward Gary Wilkinson recorded his fourth double-double of the season with 24 points and a career-high 14 rebounds to lead Utah State to a convincing 77-67 road win at New Mexico State here Saturday night at the Pan American Center, as USU held the WAC's top offense 10 points below its scoring average.

Utah State, who has now won 10 straight games, improves to 15-1 on the season and 3-0 in the Western Athletic Conference with the win. USU also improved on its nationally-leading road record as it is now 6-0 on the road this year.

New Mexico State lost for the second straight game at home and falls to 8-9 overall and 2-2 in league play.

Sophomore forward Tai Wesley added 15 points and five rebounds for Utah State, while junior guard Jared Quayle had 11 points and eight rebounds. Sophomore guard Tyler Newbold added a career-high eight assists.

Jahmar Young led New Mexico State with 18 points, while Wendell McKines and Troy Gillenwater each had 11 points.

Utah State broke open a close game midway through the second-half with an 8-0 run that began with a three-point play from Wilkinson and ended with a three-pointer from junior guard Stavon Williams to give the visitors a 54-45 lead with 11:37 to play. NMSU fought back to within 54-51 on a three-pointer from Young, but USU answered with a 7-2 run to extend the margin back to eight. The Southern Aggies got within five points twice but could get no closer as Utah State held a double-digit lead for the final four minutes of the game.

Utah State finished the game by shooting 53.8 percent from the field (28-52) and 75.0 percent from the free throw line (15-20). New Mexico State shot 43.1 percent overall (22-51) and 43.8 percent from behind the arc (7-16), including 16-of-21 (.762) from the charity stripe.

Utah State continued to control the glass as it out-rebounded New Mexico State, 34-26. USU did finish with 21 turnovers, but forced NMSU into 18 turnovers.

Wilkinson scored the first eight points of the game for Utah State and USU quickly built a 13-4 lead before New Mexico State slowly chipped away at the deficit and took its first lead of the game at 25-25 with a pair of free throws from McKines. USU, however, finished the half on a 12-7 run to go into the locker room with a 38-34 advantage.

Wilkinson led Utah State with 14 first-half points as USU shot 57.1 percent from the field (12-21) and was 11-of-13 (.846) from the free throw line. New Mexico State shot 48.0 percent in the first-half (12-25) and was 8-of-10 (.800) from the charity stripe. Both teams also committed 13 first-half turnovers.

Utah State's next game will be on Thursday, Jan. 15 when it hosts Fresno State at 7 p.m., in the Dee Glen Smith Spectrum.